Wheelchair minivan for Samantha
Donation protected
I am Samantha's dad and I would like to tell you about our wonderful girl.
My wife gave birth to Samantha just over 14 years ago. The pregnacy was normal with no signs of any issues. When she was born, my wife was able to hold Sammie for all of 5 minutes before Sammie was hurried off. As young parents we were scared out of our minds. Samantha was transported to one of the local childrens hospitals where she was diagnosed with a very rare genetic disorder called 7q trisomy. After genetic testing on both my wife and I, we found that I had passed on this gene to Samantha. Since her birth Samantha has been through more than any child her age should have to endure. She has had heart surgery to repair 2 small holes in her heart, RSV that put her in the hospital for 21 days and on a respirator, 3 back surgeries to straighten her back due to a 102 degree curvature related to scoliosis, a feeding tude placed in her stomach and just recently she had to have her right femur repositioned in a procedure called a (right hip proximal femoral valgus osteotomy).
Samantha is now 14, she cannot walk nor talk. She is fed through a g-tube and is still diapered. She loves school and her friends. She has a wonderful little brother who we sometimes forget is the littel brother because he does so much for his sister. Out of all the symtoms and side effects from her genetic condition, the one that seems to have had the biggest impact in the lack of fine motor skills. As this affects her chewing, her speech and grasping just to name a few.
As Samantha has grown, it is becoming more difficult to transfer her from her wheelchair to her seat in the van and then having to lift the wheelchair into the back of the van. Like many other families with special needs children we struggle to get the nessessary equipment for our daughter. Last year after fighting with our insurance company for almost 8 months we had to contact Congressman Joe Heck's office just to get Samantha the proper wheelchair that her surgeon had ordered. We have applied for state assistance and social security disability but, we are always denied.
We are trying to raise money so that we can purchase a minivan that is equipped to accommodate a wheelchair and has a warranty. We would use the money to purchase a van and then have the wheelchair modifications made to it. Samantha loves her Tinklebell videos so, I would like to put the dvd system in the van so she could laugh and giggle while we drive.
Being able to get a new van with the wheelchair modifications would help us in so many ways. We have had many set backs in the last few years. My father in law, who lives with us, and was caring for our children until we got home from work became very ill due to his diabeties and as a result my wife had to stay home to care for him and our children. Having a van with a warranty would take a lot of stress off of our shoulders.
My wife gave birth to Samantha just over 14 years ago. The pregnacy was normal with no signs of any issues. When she was born, my wife was able to hold Sammie for all of 5 minutes before Sammie was hurried off. As young parents we were scared out of our minds. Samantha was transported to one of the local childrens hospitals where she was diagnosed with a very rare genetic disorder called 7q trisomy. After genetic testing on both my wife and I, we found that I had passed on this gene to Samantha. Since her birth Samantha has been through more than any child her age should have to endure. She has had heart surgery to repair 2 small holes in her heart, RSV that put her in the hospital for 21 days and on a respirator, 3 back surgeries to straighten her back due to a 102 degree curvature related to scoliosis, a feeding tude placed in her stomach and just recently she had to have her right femur repositioned in a procedure called a (right hip proximal femoral valgus osteotomy).
Samantha is now 14, she cannot walk nor talk. She is fed through a g-tube and is still diapered. She loves school and her friends. She has a wonderful little brother who we sometimes forget is the littel brother because he does so much for his sister. Out of all the symtoms and side effects from her genetic condition, the one that seems to have had the biggest impact in the lack of fine motor skills. As this affects her chewing, her speech and grasping just to name a few.
As Samantha has grown, it is becoming more difficult to transfer her from her wheelchair to her seat in the van and then having to lift the wheelchair into the back of the van. Like many other families with special needs children we struggle to get the nessessary equipment for our daughter. Last year after fighting with our insurance company for almost 8 months we had to contact Congressman Joe Heck's office just to get Samantha the proper wheelchair that her surgeon had ordered. We have applied for state assistance and social security disability but, we are always denied.
We are trying to raise money so that we can purchase a minivan that is equipped to accommodate a wheelchair and has a warranty. We would use the money to purchase a van and then have the wheelchair modifications made to it. Samantha loves her Tinklebell videos so, I would like to put the dvd system in the van so she could laugh and giggle while we drive.
Being able to get a new van with the wheelchair modifications would help us in so many ways. We have had many set backs in the last few years. My father in law, who lives with us, and was caring for our children until we got home from work became very ill due to his diabeties and as a result my wife had to stay home to care for him and our children. Having a van with a warranty would take a lot of stress off of our shoulders.
Organizer
Gary L. Gibson
Organizer
Henderson, NV